Fruit preparation machine and method



May 12, 1964 R. POLK, JR 3,132,734

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 9, 1961 a Sheets-Sheet 1i mv TOR RALPH P K, JR.

ATTORNEY May 12, 1964 R. POLK, JR 3,132,734

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 9, 1961 a Sheets-She'et2 0/" m INVENTOR '8 RALPH POLK, JR.

BY A4 /WW ATTORNEY May 12., 1964 R. POLK, JR 3,132,734

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 9, 1961 a Sheets-Sheet sTF'I E :El

RALPH POLK JR.

ATTORNEY May 12., 1964 R. POLK, JR 3,132,734

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 9, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet a156' 163* 152 L1 \492'51/ I 190 5; -T n INVENTOR 9O RALPH POLK, JR.

ATTORNEY R. POLK, JR

Filed Nov. 9, 1961 FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE AND METHOD 8 Sheets-She et6 r F TIE EI 306 I 306 j 306 U" l 307 u 2: 3O? 140 l 22 1; no

42 200- 2m m- -E 42 Z6O 84 260 125 86 i y E U u g 3 INVENTOR RALPH POLK,JR.

ATTORNEY May 12, 1964 R. POLK, JR 3,132,734

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 9, 1961 a shets-sheet 7I' L I f J 20 INVENTOR RALPH POLK, JR.

ATTORNEY May 12, 1964 R. POLK, JR 3,132,734

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 9, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTOR RALPH POLK, JR.

W LJ

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,132,734 FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE ANDMETHQD Ralph Polk, In, Box 3208, Tampa, Fla. Filed Nov. 9, 1961, Ser.No. 151,241 9 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention pertains to a fruitpreparation machine and more particularly concerns an improved method ofand apparatus for orienting fruit, such as citrus fruit.

In the mechanical processing of fruit it is often necessary that thefruit be positioned so that its axis has a predetermined orientationbefore the processing tools are moved into engagement with the fruit.For example, in processing grapefruit in one type of machine, it isnecessary that the stem-blossom axis of the fruit be disposed in avertical position if the tools are to operate most effectively.I-Ieretofore it has been diflicult to obtain a positive orientation ofthe axis of grapefruit with the speed and accuracy necessary for acommercial operation. Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an efficient method of orienting the stem-blossomaxis of citrus fruit, such as grapefruit.

Another object is to provide an improved orienting mechanism for a fruitpreparation machine.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for controlling themovement of a plurality of fruit orienting fingers.

Other and further features, objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan of a fruit processing machine in which thefruit orienting mechanism of the present invention may be incorporated.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary schematic section taken along line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one of the fruitorienting mechanisms of the present invention, the view being takenlooking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective taken looking in thedirection of the arrow 4 of FIGURE I, particularly showing the feedturret of the machine and several of the fruit orienting units mountedthereon.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along line5-5 of FIGURE 1 and particularly showing a fruit clamping mechanism thatis associated with each fruit orienting mechanism on the feed turret.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 66 ofFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the rear face of asupport housing shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic plan, partly broken away and partly in section,showing an actuating linkage for the orienting mechanism of the presentinvention.

- FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine of FIGURE 1,with parts in section, the view being taken looking in the direction ofarrows 9-9 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 but drawn to a larger scale.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along lines 1111 ofFIGURE 10.

FIGURES 12, 13 and 14 are a series of diagrammatic sections showingconsecutive operating positions of the fruit orienting mechanism of thepresent invention.

In FIGURE 1 the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a grapefruitsectionizing machine in which one embodiment of the fruit centeringmechanism of the present invention is mounted. The machine 20 includes afeed turret 22, a transfer turret 24, and a main processing turret 26.All three of the turrets are arranged to be in- 3,132,734 Patented May12., 1964 and to station E where the fruit is transferred to a prongunit 28 (FIG. 2) of one of twelve fruit carriers 30 on the mainprocessing turret 26. While on the main processing turret the fruit ispierced from above by a plurality of sectionizing blades 32 that arecarried on a vertically movable tool carrier 34. In one form of themachine there are five sectionizing blades 32 mounted on each of sixheads 36 (FIG. 1), the heads being secured to the carrier 34 forvertical movement therewith. In order that the sectionizing blades canoperate effectively, it is necessary that each grapefruit 'be positionedwith its axis disposed substantially vertically. In accordance with thepresent invention, an improved mechanism is provided for sensing anout-of-vertical disposition of the axis of a grapefruit and forpositively moving the fruit, while it is on the. feed turret, until itsaxis is vertical.

In general, the sectionizing machine includes, in addition to themechanisms already mentioned, a base 40 (FIG. 2) having a fixedgenerally rectangulartable top 42 which has a central opening 43. Astationary tubular post 44 of circular cross-section is secured in thebase 4% and projects upwardly through the opening 43. Near the upper endof the post 44, the main turret 26 is mounted on bearings 46 forrotation around the post, and an inner tubular post 45 is slidablyjournalled inside the main post 44 in suitable'bearings. The toolcarrier 34, which may be circular in horizontal plan, is mounted on theupper end of the slidable post 45 which is arranged to be raised andlowered by a lift mechanism 47.

The drive mechanism for the machine is mounted in the base 40 andincludes a motor 50 which is shown in phantom lines in the sectionalview of FIG. 2 since it is located ahead of the plane of this section.The motor 5! drives a vertical shaft 51 through a belt and pulley drive52. A horizontal shaft 53, which is driven from shaft 51 through a wormgear unit 55, drives a second vertical shaft 56 by means of a bevel gearunit 57. The vertical shaft 56 effects intermittent'movement of the mainturret 26 through a Geneva drive mechanism 59 which has a driven gear 60formed on a lower hub portion 61 of the turret 26.

The lift mechanism 47 comprises a lever 63 having a bifurcated endpivotally mounted at 64 on a block 65 that is secured to the lower endof a vertical guide bar 66 bolted to a rigid wall of the base 40. Aroller follower 68, that is connected to lever 63, rides along thesurface of a cam 69 which is keyed to the shaft 53. The lever 63 has ayoke 70 formed on its outer end which engages two diametrically opposedrollers 72 (one only being shown), each roller being carried on the sideof one of two elongate parallel bars 73. The bars 73 are securedtogether by two transverse bars 74 and 75 to which the bars 73 aresecured by capscrews 76. A pad 77, formed on transverse bar 74, projectsthrough an opening 78 in the stationary post 44 and is bolted to theinner slidable post 45. The transverse bar 75 is bolted to the slidablepost 45 in the same manner. Thus, when the cam 69 is rotated, the liftmechanism 47 controls the raising and lowering of the slidable post 45by means of the collar formed by the parallel bars 73 and transversebars 74 and 75.

To prevent rotation of the post 45 while it is being raised and lowered,two rollers 8t) (one only being shown) are mounted on the ends of thebars 73, one roller being disposed on each side of the fixed guide bar66.

The transfer turret 24 has a drive shaft 82 that is driven from the hubportion 61 of the main turret 26 by a chain 84that is trained aroundasprocket 85 on said hub portion and around an idler sprocket 86 andengages a sprocket 87 keyed to the transfer shaft 82. Since the turret24 must move vertically relative to the shaft 82, it must be connectedto the shaft by a mechanism which will key the turret to the shaft forrotation therewith while permitting relative movement between the turretand the shaft. The particular mechanism used herein is described indetail in the pending application of Ralph Polk, Jr., Serial No.730,298, now Patent No. 3,030,990. A drive shaft 90 of the feed turret22 is driven by the chain 84 which is disposed around a sprocket 92keyed to the shaft 90. The chain is trained around the sprockets 87 and92in opposite directions so that the two turrets 22 and 24 are rotatedin opposite directions. It will be evident that the three turrets 22.,24 and 26 are intermittently driven in timed relation through the Genevadrive 59, and that the tool carrier 34 is raised and lowered in timedrelation with the indexing movements of the three turrets.

The weight of the tool carrier 34 and its associated mechanism iscarried jointly by the cam 69 of the lift mechanism and by a pneumaticcounterbalance mechanism which includes an open top cylinder 94, that issecured to the base 40. A piston rod 96 extending from a piston 97, thatis movable in cylinder 94, is secured to a plate 99 that is bolted tothe parallel bars 73, the upper end of piston rod 96 being disposedbetween the bars 73.

A generally tubular, air tight expansible and contractible air reservoir100 is formed within cylinder 94 below the piston 97 by a flexiblediaphragm 101. The diaphragm'101 is made of a thin material that is airtight, pliable, and resistant to citric acid. A material which has beenfound to be satisfactory is a nylon cloth impregnated with a syntheticrubber such as Nitrile. The diaphragm 101 has an upper wall secured tothe piston 97 and a lower annular end secured between annular flanges102 of the cylinder. As the piston moves up and down in the cylinder,the diaphragm flexes between the upper position shown in full lines tothe lower dotted line position. An air conduit 104 extends through thelower wall of the cylinder and communicates with the interior of the airreservoir 100. The conduit 104 is also connected to an air supply suchas the usual air bottle or container 103 in which air is maintainedunder a constant pressure. A manually adjustable pressure regulator (notshown) is provided to vary the air pressure to the reservoir.

When the tool carrier 34 is lowered under the control of the cam 69, airin the closed system below the piston 97 is compressed. Then, when thecarrier 34 is again raised, the expanding air applies a lifting forcethrough the bars 73 to augment the lifting force of the cam. Byregulating the pressure of the air in the system, an optimum percentageof the weight of the tool carrier will be carried by the pneumaticsystem. It is desirable that the pneumatic system hear about 80 percentof the weight of the tool carrier 34. With such an arrangement, themachine operates smoothly, and the cam 69 and associ ated parts aresmall enough to be efiiciently arranged in the base.

The feed turret 22 comprises a plate-like member 110 (FIG. 1) secured tothe upper end of the shaft 90. Four identical keyhole slots 111 are cutthrough the plate at points spaced equi-angularly around the shaft 90,each slot providing an enlarged circular opening at one end that definesan arcuate fruit support surface 112. The support surface 112 is, ofcourse, an arc of a circle and as will appear presently, the fruit isoriented relative to the axis of that circle. A fruit guide arm 115(FIGS.

3 and 4) is associated with each slot 111, each arm having a generallycircular head 116 that has a concave face 117 and is provided with threeequi-spaced notches 118 (FIG. 4). Each arm is clamped on a shaft 120which is rotatably journalled in a housing 121 secured to theundersurface of plate 110. During the manual positioning of thegrapefruit on the feed turret, the operator places the button at thestem end of the fruit against the concave face 117 of the guide armwhich is, at that time, at

station A of the turret, and then pivots the arm downwardly to positionthe stem end of the grapefruit on the associated substantially annularfruit support surface 112. After the fruit is disposed on the surface112, the operator shifts the blossom end of the fruit, pivoting it aboutthe axis defined by the center of the circle of which the surface 112 isan arc to bring the depression at the blossom end of the fruit intoalignment with a vertical beam of light projected downwardly from aprojector 122 (FIG. 2). The projector 122 may be of the type disclosedin the US. patent to Cox No. 2,901,087.

When the guide arm 115 is swung downwardly to position the fruit on theannular surface 112, an arcuate friction surface 124 (FIG. 3) of a block125, that is keyed to shaft 120 and is disposed inside housing 121,engages a mating friction surface 126 of a locking lever 127. The lever127 is rotatably mounted on a short shaft 130 that extends across theinterior of the housing 121. A spring 133, which is connected between afixed pin 134 on the housing and a lower extension arm 136 of thelocking lever 127, urges the lever in a clockwise direction (FIG. 3).Accordingly, when the guide arm 115 is swung downwardly, the block 125engages the upper end of lever 127 which yields to permit the arcuatesurface 124 of block 125 to move into engagement with surface 126. Thespring 133 then exerts a force in a direction to aid in maintaining thefrictional engagement of the surfaces 124 and 126. The extension 136 hasa generally horizontal portion 136A (FIG. 4) Which is engaged by arelease cam, which will be described presently, for releasing thefrictional locking engagement of the surfaces 124 and 126.

When the fruit has been adjusted so that the depression at the blossomend of the fruit is directly under the vertical beam of light, aclamping lever 140 (FIG. 4) is swung downwardly to move two pins 141 onthe U-shaped end of the lever into engagement with the blossom end ofthe fruit to clamp the fruit on the base plate 110 of the feed turret.There are four'clamping levers on the feed turret, each lever beingdisposed in radial alignment with one of the annular fruit supportsurfaces 112 of the base plate. The length of each lever is such thatits two pins 141 engage the grapefruit on opposite sides of thedepression of the blossom end of the fruit. Since all four.

two short mounting arms 144 and 145 that are carried by a collar 146secured to the turret shaft 90. An adjustable link 150 is pivotallymounted at its upper end on a pin 151 that extends between the arms ofthe yoke 142. At its lower end, the link 150 is provided with a cammingsurface 152 and, just above the camming surface 152, a pin 154 issecured in the link 150 and projects from opposite sides thereof intoand through slots 155 (one only being shown) in two mounting tabs 156formed on a support collar 158. The collar, which carries four sets oftabs 156, is formed integral with a mounting sleeve 160 which is securedby screw 159 to the shaft 90. A tubular spacer 161 is disposed aroundpost 90 between the lower end 160A of sleeve 160 and a boss 162 (FIG. 4)on the table top 42. A notch 163 is formed in the lower end of link 150just above the cam surface 152. A spring 164, connected between a pin165 on the base plate 110 and a pin 166 on link 150, urges the linkupwardly.

The link 150 is moved downwardly by means of a manually operated lever169 which is provided with a yoke 170 (FIG. 6) whose spaced arms aredisposed on opposite sides of a pair of mounting tabs 172 formed on acollar 173 that is integral with the sleeve 160 and is secured, as bycapscrews (not shown) to the base plate 110. A pivot pin 175 extendsthrough the arms of yoke 170, the two tabs 172, and through a slot 176(FIG. 5) in the link 150. With this arrangement, the lever 169 ispivotallymounted on the tabs 172. Downward movement of lever 169 istransmitted to the link 150 by a bar 17 9 that is pivoted at one end ona pin 180 projecting from lever 169 and has a slot 181 at its oppositeend that receives one end of the pin 154 carried by the link 150. Whenthe wall at the upper end of slot 181 engages pin 154, further downwardmovement of the lever 169 will cause downward movement of link 150against the resistance of a spring 182 connected between the bar 179 andthe base plate 110.

As the clamp lever is moved downwardly into engagement with thegrapefruit, the camming surface 152 on the lower end of the link 150engages a latching lever 190 which pivots counterclockwise on a pin 191that is mounted on a bracket 192 integral with the sleeve 160. When theclamp has engaged the fruit, the latching lever 190 is pivoted clockwisedue to the weight of an abutment plate 195 carried on the opposite endof the latching lever. Clockwise movement of lever 190 causes a noseportion 190A of the lever to move into the latch recess 163 on the link150. When the operator releases the clamp actuating lever 169, thespring 164 draws the link 150 upwardly, causing the nose 190A to befrictionally gripped by the wall portion at the lower end of the latchrecess.

Since the sleeve 160 is secured to the turret shaft 90, the collars 173,158 and 192' are integral with the sleeve 160, and base plate 110 issecured to collar 173, rotation of turret shaft 90 will cause rotationof the base plate 110, the four clamping levers 140 and their actuatingmechanisms.

In FIG. 12 a fruit F is illustrated after it has been clamped inposition on the feed turret at station A. It will be noted that,although the operator attempted to center the fruit on the circularsupport surface 112 by placing the stem'end of the fruit against thehead 116 of the guide arm 115, she did not achieve an accuratealignment. Accordingly, even after the upper blossom end of the fruitwas positioned under the vertical beam of light and the clamping lever140 was moved into engagement with the fruit, the stem-blossom axis ofthe fruit still remained at an angle to the vertical. In accordance withthe present invention, an orienting mechanism 200 is provided whichincludes a plurality of orienting or centering fingers 201 that arearranged to be projected upwardly through the circular opening in plate110, that defines the annular support surface 112, and into the fruitthat is clamped on the surface 112. Then all of the fingers 201 aremoved radially inwardly toward a vertical axis X defined by the centerof the annular surface 112 and the vertical light beam projecteddownwardly from projector 122. If the stem-blossom axis of the fruit isnot in alignment with this axis, one of the radially moving fingers 201will engage the relatively tough core material M, that is disposed alongthe axis of each fruit, and will shift the lower end of the core towardthe axis X. The oriented, centered position of the fruit is indicated inFIGURE 14. It will be understood, of course, that if the fruit has beenproperly centered by the operator the centering fingers 201 will moveradially through the easily penetrated part of the fruit around the corewithout causing any shifting of the fruit.

One fruit orienting mechanism 200 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is'mounted'on the feedturret 22 below each fruit support surface 112. The fourorientingmechanisms are 1 identical, and each comprises a center tube 205 thathas an upper flange 206 secured to the plate by capscrews 207 (one onlybeing shown). The axis of each tube 205 is in alignment with the centerof one of the four circular fruit supporting surfaces 112 on plate 110.The orienting mechanism shown in FIG. 3 has three centering fingers 201,only two of which are shown, and accordingly the tube 205 has threevertical slots 208 that are spaced at intervals around the periphery ofthe tube. A lifter sleeve 210 is slidably disposed on the tube 205, saidsleeve having three longitudinal slots 209 and 1 a lower flange 211adapted to support three pairs of in verted L-shaped mounting plates 212and 213. The plates 212 and 213 of each pair are spaced from each otherto define a slot that is disposed in a plane projecting radially fromthe axis, and each plate is secured as by welding, to the outer surfaceof sleeve 210 and to the upper surface of flange 211. A'centering fingeractuator lever 217 is disposed between each pair of plates 212 and 213,being pivotally mounted on a pin 218 that extends between the plates. Atits lower end each actuator lever 217 carries a laterally projecting tab220 which has a slot 221 arranged to receive the shank of a bolt 223. Aspring 225 is disposed around the bolt 223 between the tab 220 and anupstanding abutment member 226 that is fixed to and projects upwardlyfrom flange 211. -The spring exerts a force on the lever 217 tending toswing the upper end of the lever inwardly, and a nut 228 on the bolt 223engages the abutment member 226 to determine the innermost position ofthe upper end of lever 217;

Each centering finger 201 has a lower end portion ing 'a pointed upperend that may be sharpened to permit the finger to easily penetrate thelower end of the fruit. The radially inner edge 246 of each finger isflat so that it can effectively engage core material and shift itlaterally toward the vertical reference axis defined by the verticallight beam of projector 122 and the center of the circular aperture 112in the support plate 110.

During the time a grapefruit is being positioned and clamped on thesupport surface 112, the upper ends of the centering fingers 201 arebelow the level of said surface, as seen in FIG. 3. When the orientingoperation is started, the carrier sleeve 210 is moved upwardly by a liftmechanism which will be described presently. As the sleeve 210'movesupwardly, three springs 250 which are connected between theleve'rs 217and the intermediate portions of the centering fingers pull thecentering fingers upwardly causing the fingers to penetrate the fruit.When the fingers have penetrated a desired distance, the upper edge 242of each centering finger engages a roller 252 that is rotatably mountedon the underside of-the flange 206. The upward movement of the fingersis stopped but the carrier'sleeve 210 continues upwardly, stretchinglower end of each lever 217 will permit the upper end of the lever toswing outwardly when the centering fingers have shifted the corematerial as far as possible toward centered position. Accordingly, thesprings 225 provide I a lower end portion slidably disposed in a-hole inflange 211. The spring 255 tends to urge the carrier sleeve 210 to alowered position in which its bottom surface engages a collar 258 thatis disposed around post 205 and abuts a pin 259 projecting from thepost.

' The mechanism for lifting the carrier sleeve 210 comprises a pair ofvertical posts 260 (FIGS. 9 and 10), that extend through openings inmain support table 42 of the machine and have enlarged circular heads261 disposed above the table directly under the base flange 211 of thecarrier sleeve 210, as shown in FIG. 13. The two posts 260 are rigidlyconnected at their lower ends to a flat mounting strap 264 (FIG. 10)that has a pin 265 extending downwardly from the central portion of itsunderside. The posts 260 are raised and lowered by means of a compositelever 270 that includes a tubular pivot member 271 (FIG. 11), anactuating arm 272, a short lifter arm 273 and a long lifter arm 274 thathas an end portion provided with a slot 275 (FIG. 10) adapted to receivea pin 276 projecting laterally from the depending pin 265. A nut 279 isdisposed on the threaded end of the pin 276. The tubular pivot member271 is rotatably journalled in twoarms 277 of a fixed bracket 278. Theactuating arm 272 is provided with a slot 282 arranged to receive a pin283 projecting laterally from a rod 285 that is secured to and projectsdownwardly from the overhead tool carrier 34. When the carrier 34 ismoved downwardly, the lever 270 is pivoted counterclockwise (FIG. 10),causing the arm 274 to raise the two posts 260 upwardly to engage theundersurface of the flange 211 of the carrier sleeve 210.

The short arm 273 of the composite lever 270 is pivotally connected at290 to a short link 291 which, in turn, is pivoted at 293 to an arm 294that projects downwardly from a plate 296. At its opposite ends, theplate has apertures which receive a short post 297 and a tall post 299inslidable, guided engagement. Each post projects through an opening intable top 42 and is provided with a'fixed collar 300 which abuts thetable top to limit the downward movement of the post and define itslowered position. A collar 301 is secured to each post below the plate296 and a collar 302 is secured to the post above plate 296. When theplate 296 is raised, it engages the collars 302 and lifts the posts 297and 299 against the resistance of springs 303 that are disposed aroundthe posts between each collar 302 and the table top 42.

As seen in the plan view of FIGURE 8, the short post 297 and the tallpost 299 are disposed adjacent the station C of the feed turret, saidstation being indicated by the intersection of two phantom lines. Thetall post 299 is disposed adjacent the sleeve 160 at the center of thefeed turret 22 in position to engage the abutment plate 195 (FIG. of thelatch mechanism of the fruit clamping arm 140 that is disposed, at thatparticular time, at station C. Accordingly, when a clamped fruit reachesstation C, and the tool carrier 34 is moved downwardly, the compositelever 270 is pivoted and the long post 299 is raised to engage arm 195and release the fruit clamp arm 140. The spring 164 (FIG. 5) then raisesthe arm 140 and the actuating lever 169 to their upper position. It willbe noted in FIG. that the transfer turret 24 also moves downwardly withthe tool carrier 34 to bring four prongs 306 into engagement with thereleased fruit. A clamp device 307, which forms no part of the presentinvention, is associated with each set of prongs 306 to lock the fruiton the prongs preparatory to subsequent indexing movements of thetransfer turret.

Theshort post 297 is arranged to release the centering fingers 201 whenthey are disposed at station C. Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be notedthat a latch lever 310 is pivotally. mounted at 312 on a tab 313depending from the flange 206. The latching lever 310 has a notch 314formed on its inner edge. When the carrier sleeve 210 is moved upwardly,the side edge of flange 211 pivots the lever outwardly. After thecentering fingers 201 have penetrated the fruit and have been movedradially inwardly to center the fruit, the flange 211 reaches a pointabove notch 314, and lever 310 swings inwardly so that a ledge 316underlies the flange 211 and prevents downward movement of the carrier.Thus, the centering fingers remain in engagement with the centered fruituntil they reach station C. Then when the turret is stationary, theshort post 297 is raised to engage a slanted surface 317 on the lowerend of lever 310 and 'carns the lever radially outwardly away from theaxis of post 205. This outward movement of lever 310 removes the ledge316 from under the flange 211 of the carrier and the spring 255, whichwas compressed during upward movement of the carrier, forces the carrier210 to its lower position.

After a centered fruit has been removed from the feed turret, and thecentering unit is moved away from station C, the lower horizontalportion 136A of the extension arm 136, that is part of the latchmechanism for the pivotal guide arm 115, engages a cam bar 325. As seenin FIGURE 10, the cam bar 325 has a lower end 326 adjacent station C andan elevated end 327 approximately past station C. Accordingly, aftereach centering unit leaves station C, the portion 136A of arm 136 ridesupcam bar 325 until the arm 136 is pivoted counterclock wise (FIG. 3)sutficiently to move-friction surface 126 away from surface 124. Atorsion spring 332 (FIG. 7)

that has one end 333 anchored against an edge of a de-' position. Acollar 340 that is clamped on shaft 120 has an arm 341 which engages astop 342 secured to housing 121, to define the uppermost pivotedposition of the guide arm 115.

A brief rsum of the operation of the fruit centering mechanism will begiven with particular reference to the operational views of FIGURES 4,12, 13 and 14. When the operator standing at station A of feed turret 22picks up a peeled grapefruit, she places the button at the stem end ofthe fruit against the head of the guide arm 115 and swings the armdownwardly to position the fruit on the generally circular supportsurface 112 of plate 110. As the arm 115 reaches its lowered position,the friction surfaces 124 and 126 are urged into gripping engagement tohold the arm in the lowered position.

When the fruit reaches its position on support surface 112, the operatorcenters the top of the fruit under the vertical light beam, grasps lever169 and swings the clamp 140 down into engagement with the fruit. Whenthe feed turret is next indexed, the clamped fruit is moved to stationB. While the feed turret is stationary, the tool carrier 34 is moveddownwardly, causing the two posts 260 to move upwardly to engage thelower edge of the carrier sleeve 210 to raise it. As the sleeve iselevated, the three springs 250 draw the centering fingers 201 upwardly,causing the upper pointed ends to move through the circular opening inthe support plate to engage and penetrate the fruit clamped thereon.When the abutment surfaces 242 on the fingers come into contact with therollers 252, as seen in FIGURE 13, the upward movement of'the centeringfingers is stopped, however, the carrier sleeve continues upwardly,causing the rollers 254 on levers 217 to engage cam surfaces 240 andswing the centering fingers inwardly about pivot pins 231. It will benoted that the notches 118 in the head of the guide bar receive thefingers 201. At least one of the flat abutment surfaces 246 of thefingers 201 engage core material of the fruit and shift it, as seen inFIG. 14, toward the reference axis defined by the axis of tube 205, thevertical beam of light from projector 122 and the center of the circleon which the circular portion of the fruit support surface 112 isformed. It is to be noted that, during this movement of the lower end ofthe fruit, the upper end is held in a relatively fixed position by theclamp 140. Accordingly, the clamp at the upper end of the fruit acts asa pivot about which the lower end is swung.

After the fruit has been centered and the centering fingers are lockedin their upper position by the latch lever 310, the feed turret isindexed to move the fruit to station C. During the next downwardmovement of tool carrier 34, a prong unit on the transfer turretpenetrates and grips the fruit on the feed turret. After the prongs haveengaged the fruit, the short post 297 releases the carrier sleeve latchlever 310 (FIG. 3) and the tall post 299 releases the latch lever 190(FIG. 5) associated with the clamp arm 140. The fruit is then liftedaway from the feed turret by the transfer turret during the next upwardmovement of the tool carrier 34. When the centering device is moved awayfrom station C, the latch arm 136 engages cam bar 325 causing the guidearm 115 to be swung to upright position by torsion spring 332.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the presentinvention provides a new and effective method of centering citrus fruit.While only citrus fruit has been discussed, it is evident that thismechanism is effective in orienting any fruit having relatively toughmaterial, such as a core, that can be engaged by the fingers. Themechanism for moving the centering fingers upwardly and then radiallyinwardly makes possible, for the first time, the positive orientation ofthe stem-blossom axis of a fruit.

It will be evident that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the novel concepts of the present invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited except by the scope and proper interpretation of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a fruit preparation machine, a fruit support hav ing an openingtherein, means for engaging the upper portion of a fruit disposed onsaid support over said opening to hold said portion in substantiallyfixed position, a plurality of fruit orienting fingers mounted in auniform pat tern around a point disposed centrally of said fingers, saidfingers being arranged to project through said opening to receive thefruit in impaled relation thereon, means mounting said fingers formovement inwardly toward said central point to engage core material inthe fruit and move it toward said point, and means for moving saidfingers inwardly.

2. In a fruit preparation machine, a fruit support member having a holetherein formed symmetrically about a central axis, means for clamping acitrus fruit on said fruit support member with one end of the axis ofthe fruit disposed adjacent the center of said hole, a plurality ofcentering fingers mounted below said support member for movementupwardly through said hole to penetrate the fruit disposed thereabove atpoints spaced from the stemblossom axis of the fruit, and means formoving said centering fingers radially inward toward the center of saidhole to engage core material disposed along the stemblossom axis of thefruit and shift it toward said center.

3. In a fruit preparation machine, a support member having an openingformed symmetrically about a central axis and defining a fruit supportsurface, a clamp member having an end portion disposed directly abovesaid opening and arranged to engage one end of a citrus fruit adjacentthe stem-blossom axis thereof and hold the fruit on said support memberwith the other end of the stemblossom axis disposed on said supportsurface adjacent the center of said opening, a plurality of centeringfingers mounted for movement from a position below said support memberupwardly through said opening and into the fruit clamp on said supportsurface, and means for moving the centering fingers radially inwardlytoward the center of the opening to engage core material on the lowerend of the fruit adjacent the opening and move it toward the center axiswhile the upper end of the fruit is heldby said clamping member. I

4. In a fruit preparation machine, a fruit support plat having ahorizontal support surface with an aperture therein formedaround acentral axis, means for guiding a citrus fruit to a supported positionon said support member adjacent said aperture with one end of thestemblossom axis of the fruit disposed adjacent the center of saidaperture, a clamp member having an end portion movable to a positiondirectly above said aperture to engage the other end of the fruit andclamp the fruit in position on said support member, a plurality ofcentering fingers mounted below said support member for movementvertically upwardly through said aperture to engage and penetrate thefruit clamped on said support member at points spaced from thestem-blossom axis of the fruit at the lower end thereof, means formoving said fingers radially inwardly toward the axis of said apertureto engage core material of the fruit and shift it toward the center ofsaid aperture while the upper end of the fruit is held in position bysaid clamp member.

5. In a fruit preparation machine, a support member having a generallyhorizontal support surface with a hole therein formed about a centralaxis, a projector mounted directly above said support member andarranged to project a beam of light vertically downwardly through thehole along the axis thereof, means for guiding a citrus fruit to asupported position on said support memberwith one end of thestem-blossom axis of the fruit disposed adjacent the axis of said hole,a clamp member having an end portion movable to a position directlyabove said hole to engage the citrus fruit at the other end of thestemblossom axis and clamp the fruit on said support member, and meansfor engaging the lower end of the fruit and shifting it toward the axisdefined by the vertical beam of light and the center of said hole.

6. In a fruit preparation machine, a fruit support member having anaperture therein, means for clamping a citrus fruit in position oversaid aperture with the stemblossom axis disposed in a generally verticalorientation and With a reference mark at one end of the fruit disposedadjacent the center of said aperture, and a plurality of centeringfingers mounted below said support member for movement upwardly throughsaid aperture into en gagement with the fruit clamped thereon, and meansfor moving said fingers radially inwardly toward the center of theaperture, each finger having a flat body portion disposed on a radiusfrom said hole center and having a fiat abutment surface on the radiallyinner edge adapted to engage core material of the fruit and shift ittoward the center of said aperture.

7. In a method of orienting the stem-blossom axis of a grapefruit, thesteps of disposing the grapefruit on a support surface with the upperend of the stem-blossom axis facing upwardly whereby said upper end isdisposed on an imaginary vertical reference line with its axis inclinedfrom said line, shifting a reference mark on the upper end of the fruitto a particular position, gripping the upper end of the fruit adjacentthe fruit axis to hold said upper end on said reference line, andthereafter engaging the fruit adjacent the lower end thereof andshifting it to a position wherein its axis is in generally verticalalignment with the reference mark at the upper end of the fruit whilemaintaining pressure on the upper end.

8. In a method of centering a grapefruit the steps of disposing thegrapefruit on a support surface with the stem-blossom axis in agenerally vertical position, shift ing a reference mark on the upper endof the fruit to a particular position, and simultaneously holding theupper end of the fruit in fixed position and gripping the lower 1 1 endof the fruit and shifting it toward an imaginary vertical axis passingthrough the reference mark on the upper end of the fruit.

9. In a fruit preparation machine, a fruit support adapted to receive afruit with one end of the core axis of the fruit facing upwardly anddisposed on an imaginary vertical reference line, means for engaging theupper end of the fruit to hold said end in generally fixed position-onsaid reference line, and a plurality of centering members mountedadjacent said support for movement inwardly 10 References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Carroll Dec. 24, 1940Rodriques Aug. 27, 1963

1. IN A FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE, A FRUIT SUPPORT HAVING AN OPENINGTHEREIN, MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE UPPER PORTION OF A FRUIT DISPOSED ONSAID SUPPORT OVER SAID OPENING TO HOLD SAID PORTION IN SUBSTANTIALLYFIXED POSITION, A PLURALITY OF FRUIT ORIENTING FINGERS MOUNTED IN AUNIFORM PATTERN AROUND A POINT DISPOSED CENTRALLY OF SAID FINGERS, SAIDFINGERS BEING ARRANGED TO PROJECT THROUGH SAID OPENING TO RECEIVE THEFRUIT IN IMPALED RELATION THEREON, MEANS